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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 13, 2014 8:57:52 GMT -5
Has anyone ever successfully used the clicker/target training method on their quakers or any other birds?
If so, anyone have any tips, other than watch you tube videos, which I have been doing?
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Post by easttex on Nov 13, 2014 14:04:50 GMT -5
I guess it doesn't count that I've had one hanging up in my kitchen for about two years now?  I don't know what my problem is with using it, but I'll be very interested to read about your experiences with one. |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 13, 2014 17:27:22 GMT -5
LOL sorta like the harness I bought for Mr P when I first got him, still sitting in a box under my desk. I will certainly keep everyone posted, should be interesting.
This might also benefit Mr P as well as he has started this new thing where he doesnt want to step back up onto his playstands from my hand when I have to do something, like work.
Never had a problem with this before, it may be jealously over Pele. Even though they are in different rooms (Pele is still quarantined) Mr P hears me talking to him and sees me walking into the other room with food dishes
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 14, 2014 19:05:58 GMT -5
So, this weekend, I hope to start the beginning of target training with Pele. The first goal is to get him to understand that when he hears the clicker it means YUMMIES!
He's pretty smart, he learned that the crinkling of the bag that I keep the almond slivers in means yummies, the clicker should be a piece of cake (no pun intended)
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 19, 2014 21:02:26 GMT -5
So, I thought I"d update those that were interested in how Pele's target training is going. Honestly, it's going so well that I"m thinking Mr P would benefit from this too.
On Sat and Sunday, all I did was click the clicker and feed Pele treats. He actually started calling for me and looking for me to come into the quarantine room so I could click and he could get treats. The point of this was to associcate the clicking sound with yummies.
Monday, I started the real training. I am using a chopstick that you would get at a carry out chinese restaurant as the target. I have the clicker rubberbanded to the bottom of the target so I dont have to try to hold too many things at once. Pele was afraid of the target. I could not get it within a foot of him before he'd back away/retreat across the top of his cage. Monday we spent clicking and rewarding when he didnt back away from the target. By the end of the day, I could hold it up about a foot from him and he would be ok with that.
When we do this, Pele stands on the top of his cage, on the edge facing the bedroom door. This is his favorite spot to hang out anyway.
Tuesday, I rested the target on the top of the cage, on the edge, where he stands. It was still about a foot away from him, but on the same level as he was. He would stand there long enough for me to click and for him to get his treat, then he would back away to the other side of the cage. He would eat his treat, and when he was ready for another one, he would come back, stay just long enough for me to click again, then run to the other side of the cage. I gradually increased the time that I asked him to stay near the target, until, by the end of the day, he wasnt running away from it anymore, he was eating his treat on the same side of the cage as the target.
Wednesday, today, we made great progress. By the time the day was over, he was almost touching the target. I have to say that this training , at least what I have done so far, works!
I have a feeling that tomorrow he will actually touch the target with his beak, which is the goal of this.
But even better, Pele LIKES it. He has fun! He likes earning treats. He understands that HIS behavior controls whether he gets a click/treat. He has the choice to participate and earn a treat, or to go to the other side of the cage and sulk.
But, best of all, he calls to me to come "play" when my job or some obligation has kept me away from our training sessions for more than a few hours. When I come into the room and he has been dozing in his cage, he will climb out and sit in the spot on the top of his cage where we have been training. This is a FAR cry from him lunging at me whenever I got near his cage.
Mr P, of course, is beside himself with jealousy. He actually bit me yesterday when I went to put him back on his playstand, obviously displeased that I wasnt spending more time with him. Today I made it a point to give Mr P a lot of attention and cuddles. That was the first time he had bitten me since I first got home from my extended stay in MD.
The final goal of this target training is to have Pele walk to the target no matter where it is and touch it to earn his click and reward. That would include inside and outside his cage, on the floor, wherever he can walk to. Once this is done, then we move on to step up.
I'm not 100% sure how to incorporate the target training into stepping up, but the Rescue behavior educator will be advising me what is next when the time comes.
It's been really fascinating how well this works!
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Post by biteybird on Nov 20, 2014 1:40:26 GMT -5
Well done...obviously persistence pays off. But it looks like you won't have ANY time to yourself, between Pele and Mr. P! The only videos I've seen about clicker training are the birdtricks.com ones, but I don't have the time to do all that with Bonnie, so I thought it best not to start unless I could do it properly.
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Post by easttex on Nov 20, 2014 6:10:46 GMT -5
All the detail is great! I'm starting to feel inspired to try the clicker with Peppy. Always, at the back of my mind, is the thought that he hasn't been worked with for 21 years, so it's going to be very hard for both of us. Maybe he'll be more amenable than I think. He's made quite a bit of progress since he's been here, but it's time to step things up a notch.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 20, 2014 8:31:36 GMT -5
As long as he will take treats from you hand without biting you, that is all that needs to happen at first. There is no timeline or need to rush through this. Even if all you can spend is 10 mins a day and the first week all you do is click your clicker and feed treats, that is a great start I work from home which makes it a little easier for me, however, our training sessions are short. Normally one in the am before Pele gets his fresh foods and one in the late afternoon before he gets his dinner. The biggest trick to this is to make sure your bird is hungry before you start or they arent as motivated to get treats, although I'm not sure that holds true for quakers as they always seem to be motivated to get treats  Easttex, for you and Peppy, I would just get a clicker and everytime you are about to give him a treat, click. Each and every time. If you can commit to that, you are on your way. And actually, you dont have to have a clicker, the same single word, said every time before the treat works too, you just have to make sure it's a word that is NEVER said in everyday conversation, so the word "good" probably won't work The birdtricks.com vids are very close to what I am doing except I am not waving the target in Pele's face. I don't think I spend more than 30 mins daily doing this with Pele, I break it up into several 5 to 10 minute sessions a day as Pele has a fairly short attention span and gets to a point where he does not want to participate anymore. When that happens, I stop. This is supposed to be fun, not a chore |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 20, 2014 13:12:53 GMT -5
PELE IS TOUCHING THE TARGET!!!!
I"m so excited I could puke!
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Post by easttex on Nov 20, 2014 13:55:09 GMT -5
Aww, you're both touching my heart... 
That was fast! Either Pele is extraordinarily smart or you're a very good trainer. Or, most likely, both. |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 20, 2014 15:24:50 GMT -5
Pele is very very very smart, it's scary he's so smart! He has learned to make the sound of the clicker!! (I didnt mean to teach him that)
When I walk into the room and pick up the target, he starts "clicking"
It's precious.
I have GOT TO STOP MYSELF from getting so fond of this little guy that I wind up adopting him myself. I just keep telling myself that Mr P would HATE me for it. He's already so jealous
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Post by biteybird on Nov 21, 2014 6:25:13 GMT -5
I have GOT TO STOP MYSELF from getting so fond of this little guy that I wind up adopting him myself. Hmm, Pele knows who he wants as his 'lord & master'! Maybe he and Mr. P could have a time-share arrangement? This situation might inspire them to new heights and, who knows, Mr. P might learn some etiquette? After all, Pele has already put him to shame in the food-guzzling department  |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 22, 2014 15:30:27 GMT -5
So, I've published a few short videos taken today, of Pele's progress. Here they are on youtube, hopefully you all will be able to view them
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Post by easttex on Nov 23, 2014 5:17:49 GMT -5
I was able to see them. That's a long way from lunging at you. Congratulations! He is going to make someone a great companion.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Nov 23, 2014 9:12:14 GMT -5
Next step, getting him to step up on a hand held perch. He is very cage aggressive and he needs to be able to be taken away from a cage so he can spend some time on a playstand in another room. He will be out of quarantine on 12/1. Then I will be moving his cage out of the quarantine room (my bedroom) and into the hallway with Mr P's cage. Hopefully soon after that I will be able to get him off his cage and into the living area where Mr P and I spend the day
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I don't know what my problem is with using it, but I'll be very interested to read about your experiences with one.
